Typewriting machine



March 10, 1942. WQT. SAGNEIR 2 ,275,684

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1939 .aal...)

I INVENTOR' W917i? 2' 5796/1 51? ayz ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 10, 1942 i TYFEWRITING MACHINE Walter T. Sagner, West Hartford, Conn., assignor to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation, of Delaware Application December 2-7, 1939, SerialtNo. 311,159

11 Claims.

This invention relates to typewriting machines and more particularly to improvements on the operating keys thereof.

In :recent years a trend has been in evidence to modernize the appearance of typewriters, specifiold key-parts, at the manufacturing plant as well as in the repair shops.

Theinvention has for one of its objects to provide modernized typewriter keys at a minimum expenditure for tools,

It is anotherobject of the invention to provide an assembled key of modernistic design that em bodies substantially the proven structural features of previously manufactured keys.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an assembled key including a casing of noncircular outline which is held against rotation relatively to the key-stem.

It is still another object of the invention to provide for assemblage of differently shaped keycasings to the same kind of key-top.

A still further object of the invention is to provide key-parts whereby a key of circular outline may be quickly, conveniently and economically converted into a key of non-circular outline or vice versa to suit the preference of a customer. According to the invention shown, a square key-casing circumscribes a round key-top provided ona key-stem. The casing preferably has a rim extending inwardly at the top of the casing directly over the border of the key-top. The

casing extends below the key-top and fits at the bottom closely over an anchor-plate that is fixed withrespect to the key-stem and the key-top.

Figure 3 is a front sectional view of the assembled key seen in Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a sectional side view showing applicants novel key-parts assembled upon a key lever of a type previously used to support round key tops,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the key-le'verl shown in Figure 4 with a plate attached thereto,

Figure 6 is a side view of a key that has been converted from a round key to a square key, the key-casing and the anchor plate being shownin section, V

Figure 7 shows a perspective View of a spacer plate forming part of the key-assembly shown in Figure 6, and

Figure 8 is a sectional plan view along the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

A key-top comprises a round head or cup [2 and a round finger-disk Hi. The cup I2 has a socket formation M at its bottom which is forced onto a slightly tapered upper end Hi of a keystem 15 which extends upwardly from a keylever I I. Celluloid or another plastic and may bear at its top a charactersign I1 and may have a recess 20 at the bottom to assure its accurate location with respect to the cup I2. The upper end of the key-stem l5 cooperates with a recess [9 in the bottom of the key-disk [3 to lock the disk against rotation on the cup, it being understood that the character I! is engraved or otherwise marked in the top of the character disk in proper relation to the recess IS. The parts described to this point are old and form part of a round keyassembly depicted in the Helmond Patent No. 2,036,273, filed November 23, 1933.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a novel non-circular casing 2|, preferably having fairly high, flat side-walls l8, surrounds top border of the character disk I3. The top surface 26 of the disk I3 is preferably concave and the recess 24 of such depth that the top sur face of the inwardly extending rim 22 is exactly flush with the concaved top of the disk 13. The

casingis preferably drawn or formed from flat,

thin, non-corrosive, light-gage sheet-metal such as Alumilite, which is a dark-colored aluminum alloy, or, if desired, itmay be drawn from sheet-steel and thereafter plated with black nickel or chromium. Below the key-cup 12, an anchor plate 21 fits withinthe flat sides of the casing 2| and has a rectangular hole 28 through which the key-stem l5 extends. preferably pressed upon the tapered portion Hi of the key-stem against shoulders or lugs 29, as seen in Figure 2, and the socket formation 14 of the cup l2 directly overlies the plate.

The disk I3 is preferably molded of The plate 21 is a See Fig ure 3. The plate 21 is firmly held against rota plate 34 will be firmly drawn together.

tion upon the stem 15 and its location with respect to the key-cup I2 is definite. The light casing 2! -is located, reinforced and prevented from turning on the stem l5 by the plate 21 fitting closely within it at its bottom. Ears 3| provided on the bottom-end of the casing are bent inwardly and upwardly against the underside of the plate 21 to thereby secure the keycasing with the inwardly extending rim 22 firmly seated upon the brim 23 of the character disk l3. The ears 3| may be omitted at the exposed front-wall of the casing, but are arranged at distributed points on the other walls to firmly and at all points draw the casing down upon the brim 23. The upper end of the key-casing 2| is firmly and accurately located with respect to the key-top l2, [3 by reason of the seating engagement with the recess 24 and by reason of the seating engagement of the disk l3 with the keytop l2. Furthermore, the flat-walled casing 2| fits snugly over the round key-cup I2. In the assembled condition of the key with the ears 3| bent against the plate, the casing has the effect of drawing the character disk l3, the'cup l2 and the plate 21 together to a firm key-structure.

The lugs 29 forming part of the kcy-stem I5 shown in Figure 2 provide a convenient means to gage the plate 21 when it is forced on the stem. Although this structure is desirable, it is not an essential part of the invention,

As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 the plate 21 may be assembled upon a key-stem 33 previously used to support a conventional round key-top having the lugs 29 of Figure 2 omitted therefrom. It is sufficient that the plate 27 be supported against upward displacement along the stem 33 by abutment against the under portion of the key-cup, as seen at 40 in Figure 4.

According to the form of the invention shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, keys of circular outline now generally in use can be quickly and conveniently converted to keys of modern outline at lowcost. The key parts l2, l3 and I4 illustrated in these figures correspond'to like numbered parts in Figures 1-4. A plate 34 shown in Figures 6, 7 and8 is adapted to, be quickly placed upon the key-stem 33 without requiring the removal of the key-cup l2 by providing it with an open slot 35. The slot is of a size so that the plate fits the key-stem closely on three sides. in the formlof the invention shown, the plate 34 is struck up from light-gage sheet-metal and has upwardly bent sides or legs 3'! bearing against the underside of the key-cup l2. The bent sides 31 of the plate preferably fit the insides of sidewalls of the casing. In assembling the key, the ears 3! of the casing 2l are bent inwardly and upwardly against the plate 34 with the result that the key disk l3, the key cup I2 and the One of the ears 38, see Figure 8, is located opposite the open end of the slot 35 and is of suficient length and bendable to contact the key-stem 33 to thereby positively lock the plate 34 to the stem 33 at the open slot-end.

Although only one kind of key-top is shown in the drawing, the invention is not to be considered as limited to this specific showing. It

is evident that applicants key-casing may be attached and anchored to practically any key 'now embodied in marketed typewriters.

the said key-top rotatively locked to the said stem, a non-circular casing circumscribing the said plate and the said key-top and having an inwardly extending top-rim to bear on said circular key-top along its periphery, and cooperative means on the said plate and the said casing to rotatively lock and hold the casing with its top-rim seated on the key-top.

2. A key-assembly for typewriters or the like, comprising, a key-stem, a head upon the said stem, a finger disk on the said head having a downwardly offset brim, a plate below the said head rotatively locked to the said stem, a noncircular casing circumscribing the said head and having an inwardly extending top-rim overlying the said brim, and cooperative means on the said plate and said casing effective to hold the casing with its top-rim seated on the said brim and to positively lock the casing against rotation around the said stem.

3. A key-assembly for typewriters or the like, comprising, a key-stem, a head upon the said stem, a key-disk on the said head having a downwardly oiiset brim, a plate below the said head rotatively locked with respect'to the said stem, a flat-sided casing circumscribing the said 5 disk, head and plate and having an inwardly extending top-rim overlying the said brim, the said brim being offset from the top of the said key-disk the thickness of said rim so that the finger-surface of the assembled key is substantially smooth, and cooperative means on the said plate and said casing efiective to hold the top-rim firmly seated upon the brim and to positively lock the said casing against rotation around the said stem. 7

4. A key-assembly for typewriters or the like, comprising, a key-stem, a head upon the said stem, a key-disk on the said-head having a downwardly oiiset brim and a concave topsurface, a plate below the said head rotatively locked with respect to the said stem, a flatsided casing circumscribing the said disk, head and plate and having an inwardly extending toprim overlying the said brim, the said brim being offset from the top of the said key-disk the thickness of said rim so that. the finger-surface of the assembled key is substantially smooth, and cooperative means on the said plate and said casing efiective to hold the top rim firmly seated upon the brim and to positively lock the said casing against rotation around the said stem. 5. A key-assembly for typewriters or the like, comprising, a key-stem, a key-cup upon the said stem, a finger-disk having a recessed bottom to locate it in a definite position upon the said key-cup and having also a'recess around the top border, a fiat-walled casing circumscribing said cup having a rim extending inwardly into the top recess of the said disk, a plate under the said key-cup having edges engaging the flat walls within the casing and being locked against rotation around the said stem to thereby prevent rotation of the casing around the said stem, and means to fasten said casing with its rim firmiy seated in the said recess of the finger-disk.

6, A key-assembly for typewriters or the like, comprising, a key-stem, a key-cup upon the said stem, a finger-disk having a recessed bottom to locate it in a definite position upon the said keycup and having also a recessaround the top border, a fiat-walled casing circumsoribing said cup and having a rim extending inwardly into the top recess of the said disk, a plate under the said key-cup having edges engaging the flat walls within the casing and being locked against rotation around the said stem to thereby prevent rotation of the casing around the said stem, and

upper end of the stem, 2. key-head fastened upon the said stem directly over the said plate, a noncircular casing surrounding the said key-head and the said plate and having an inwardly extending rim overlying the said key-head, sai plate being cooperative with the said casing to preventrotation of the casing around the said stem, and means to anchor the said casing onto the said plate.

8. A key-assembly for typewriters or the like, comprising in combination, a flat-sided key-stem, a key-top on said stem, a non-circular casing surrounding the said key-top, said key-top being formed and the said casing surrounding the said key-top so that one is unrestrained by the other from turning, said casing extending below said key-top and having an inwardly extending toprim seated thereupon, means fitting snugly within the said casing underneath the said key-top and non-rotatively fitting the flat-sided key-stem,

wherefore the casingis locked againstturning about the stem and is reenforced by the said means, and means connecting the casing and the first said means to hold said casing with its toprim seated upon the said key-top.

9.A key-assembly for typewriters or the like, comprising in combination, a flat-sided key-stem, a circular key-top on said stem, a non-circular casing surrounding the said key-top, said casing extending below said key-top and having an inwardly extending top-rim seated thereupon,

means fitting snugly within the said casing underneath the said key-top and non-rotatively fitting the flat-sided key-stem, wherefore the casing is locked against turning about the stem and is reenforced by the said means, and means connecting the casing and the first said means to hold said casing with its top-rim seated upon the said key-top.

10. A key-assembly for typewriters or the like, comprising in combination, a key-stem, a key-top on said stem, a non-circular casing surrounding said key-top, said key-top being formed and the said casing surrounding the said key-top so that one is unrestrained by the other from turning, said casing extending below and having an inwardly extending top-rim overlying said key-top, an anchor-plate below the said key-top fixed to the said stem and fitted within the said casing, wherefore said casing is held against turning about the stem and reenforced by the said anchor-plate, and cooperative means on the said casing and the said anchor-plate to hold said casing with its top-rim seated upon the said key-top.

11. A key-assembly for typewriters or the like, comprising in combination, a flat-sided key-stem,

a key-top on the stem, a non-circular casing surrounding the said key-top, said key-top being formed and the said casing, surrounding the said key-top so that one is unrestrained by the other from turning about the said stem, said casing extending below said key-top and having an inwardly extending top-rim seated thereupon, a member fitting snugly within the said casing underneath the said key-top, said member being provided with an open slot to enable it to be readily placed underneath the said key-top, onto the said stem, the fiat sides of the stem fitting the said slot, wherefore the casing is locked against turning about the stem and reenforced from within by said member, and cooperative means on the said casing and the said member to hold said casing with its top-rim seated upon the said key-top.

WALTER T. SAGNER. 

